The Sound of Silence
Bob Dylan / Simon / Garfunkel Lyrics
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Performer：Simon & Garfunkel
Composer ：Paul Simon
Lyricist ：Paul Simon
Hello darkness my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Left its seeds while i was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains within the sound of silence
In restless dreams i walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
And in the naked light i saw
Ten thousand people may be more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared disturb the sound of silence
Fools said i "you do not know
Silence is like a cancer grows
Hear my words that i might teach you
Take my arms that i might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said
"the words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sounds of silence"
The Sound of Silence is a deeply contemplative song that speaks about the disconnect and loneliness that many people feel despite being surrounded by others. The singer speaks to the "darkness" within him that is personified as an old friend that he has come to talk to in its absence. He tells a story of a vision that he had that left its mark on him, even as he slept. This vision takes him to a world where people are disconnected from one another, where they talk without speaking, hear without listening, and write songs that no one ever hears. He implores them to hear his words and allow him to teach them, but his words "fell like silent raindrops" and went unheard.
The final verse speaks of the irony of the situation, where people have created a "neon god" who warns them about the very thing they are doing, and the words of the prophets are written in unlikely places like subway walls and tenement halls. The sound of silence, that was once a sense of comfort and familiarity, has become a cancerous force that is slowly killing the connections between people. This song is a poignant commentary on the modern human condition and the price we pay for our societal progress.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello darkness, my old friend
I am acknowledging my long-standing depression and sadness.
I've come to talk with you again
I am here to embrace my melancholy and reflect on it.
Because a vision softly creeping
An idea has gradually taken shape in my mind.
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
Unconsciously, the idea began to take root.
And the vision that was planted in my brain
The idea that came to me in my sleep is still with me.
Still remains
It has not faded away.
Within the sound of silence
I can only confront this vision in moments of stillness and quiet.
In restless dreams I walked alone
My sadness and the idea it brings with it haunt my dreams.
Narrow streets of cobblestone
These dreams are emotionally fraught and difficult to navigate.
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
In the dim light, I can barely make out my surroundings.
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
I seek to protect myself from the harshness of my own emotions.
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
Something jarring and unexpected interrupted my thoughts.
That split the night
It was a sudden, disruptive moment.
And touched the sound of silence
It shattered the peace and quiet I had found amidst my depression.
And in the naked light I saw
When faced with harsh reality, I noticed...
Ten thousand people, maybe more
...the countless masses around me.
People talking without speaking
Despite their presence, they do not offer any real connection or understanding.
People hearing without listening
They are physically present, but mentally checked out and disengaged.
People writing songs that voices never share
Many people express themselves through music, but still do not truly open up to others.
No one dared
None of these people have the courage to truly open themselves up to others.
Disturb the sound of silence
They do not want to disrupt the status quo of isolation and disengagement that surrounds them.
"Fools" said I, "You do not know
I recognize that these people are misguided and missing out on real meaning in life.
Silence like a cancer grows
The lack of communication and connection is eating away at their souls.
Hear my words that I might teach you
I am offering guidance and wisdom to those around me.
Take my arms that I might reach you
I want to connect with them and provide comfort and support.
But my words like silent raindrops fell
Despite my efforts, my words seem to have no impact.
And echoed in the wells of silence
My words join the many other sounds that are buried beneath the veneer of quiet in daily life.
And the people bowed and prayed
Despite my efforts, their collective mindset holds firm.
To the neon god they made
Their desires and aspirations are focused on material things, like the neon signs that dominate their surroundings.
And the sign flashed out its warning
Even the neon signs, symbols of their desires, seem to be warning them of the emptiness and futility of their pursuits.
In the words that it was forming
The signs themselves seem to be speaking a warning message.
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets
The signs suggest that those with a deeper understanding of life, like the prophets of the past...
Are written on the subway walls
...are in fact relegated to the underground, unseen by the masses.
And tenement halls"
These prophets are found in the gritty, downtrodden areas of life.
And whispered in the sounds of silence
Their message, like mine, is almost imperceptible amidst the noise of daily life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edward Winters
Two great song writers. Two of my favorite song writers on the same stage singing with each other, who could ask for anything more.
Lillylane
Hauntingly beautiful, two masters of poetic musical imagery.
Lee Miller
Wow, deeply moving... the essence of music. And this is unrehearsed (in the beginning watch Dylan searching for guitar riffs, complementary vocal, and lyrics, before locking in). Both artists are long-term greats for a reason.
Michael Devlin
This to me is masterful.
Bob's harmonica is sublime.
James Germaine
It sure is. It hits the soul if you like. It sounds magic.
Ashok Kumar
Has even the goosebumps swaying.. Bob's harmonica..
Mauro Maier
Incredible song, incredible artists ... Incredible performance!!
Margaret Freeman
Perfect song & that beautiful harmonica sound that I always love to hear...
Monica Tolipan
What a great surprise! This duet is fabulous and Bob Dylan"s harmonica gives us such a special show.
thudthud
I never thought I'd see the day. The two best songwriters of the last forty yers and rivals to boot getting together to sing an iconic song. Oh to have ben there.